624 research outputs found
Bound state approach to the QCD coupling at low energy scales
We exploit theoretical results on the meson spectrum within the framework of
a Bethe-Salpeter (BS) formalism adjusted for QCD, in order to extract an
``experimental'' coupling \alpha_s^{exp}(Q^2) below 1 GeV by comparison with
the data. Our results for \alpha_s^{exp}(Q^2) exhibit a good agreement with the
infrared safe Analytic Perturbation Theory (APT) coupling from 1 GeV down to
200 MeV. As a main result, we claim that the combined BS-APT theoretical scheme
provides us with a rather satisfactory correlated understanding of very high
and low energy phenomena.Comment: Revised version, to appear on Physical Review Letters. 7 pages, 2
figures, Revte
The momentum distribution of J/psi in B decays
The discrepancy between theory and data in the momentum distribution of slow
J/psi in B decays has been several times addressed as a puzzle. Using the most
recent results on exclusive B decays into J/psi and heavy kaons or exotic
mesons and reconsidering the non-relativistic-QCD calculation of the color
octet fragmentation component, we show that an improvement in the comparison
between data and theory can be obtained. There is still room for a better fit
to data and this may imply that new exotic mesons of the XYZ kind have yet to
be discovered.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. To appear in Physical Review
QCD coupling below 1 GeV from quarkonium spectrum
In this paper we extend the work synthetically presented in Ref.[1] and give
theoretical details and complete tables of numerical results. We exploit
calculations within a Bethe-Salpeter (BS) formalism adjusted for QCD, in order
to extract an ``experimental'' strong coupling \alpha_s^{exp}(Q^2) below 1 GeV
by comparison with the meson spectrum. The BS potential follows from a proper
ansatz on the Wilson loop to encode confinement and is the sum of a
one-gluon-exchange and a confinement terms. Besides, the common perturbative
strong coupling is replaced by the ghost-free expression \alpha_E(Q^2)
according to the prescription of Analytic Perturbation Theory (APT). The
agreement of \alpha_s^{exp}(Q^2) with the APT coupling \alpha_E(Q^2) turns out
to be reasonable from 1 GeV down to the 200 MeV scale, thus confirming
quantitatively the validity of the APT prescription. Below this scale, the
experimental points could give a hint on the vanishing of \alpha_s(Q^2) as Q
approaches zero. This infrared behaviour would be consistent with some lattice
results and a ``massive'' generalization of the APT approach. As a main result,
we claim that the combined BS-APT theoretical scheme provides us with a rather
satisfactory correlated understanding of very high and rather low energy
phenomena from few hundreds MeV to few hundreds GeV.Comment: Preliminary revision. Typos corrected, comments and references adde
Polarization Asymmetry In The Photodisintegration Of The Deuteron
The reaction ²(γ,p)n has been studied using a monochromatic and polarized gamma ray beam at energies E(γ)=19.8, 29.0, 38.6, and 60.8 MeV. The beam of an intensity ∼4×10⁵ γ/sec was obtained by Compton back scattering of mode-locked laser light off electron bunches in the Adone storage ring. Photoneutron yields were measured at nine neutron angles thetan≃15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150, and 165 deg in the center of mass (c.m.) for E(γ)=19.8, 29.0, and 38.6 MeV, and at thetan≃30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 deg c.m. for E(γ)=60.8 MeV. The polarization independent component Iₒ(theta) of the differential cross section and the polarization dependent component PI₁(theta) were deduced and the angular distribution of the azimuthal asymmetry factor Σ(theta)=I₁(theta)/Iₒ(theta) was obtained. An extensive comparison with theory has been carried out and the inclusion of corrections due to meson exchange currents and to Δ-isobar configurations have been shown to be mandatory at energies E(γ)≳40 MeV. Theoretical and experimental implications of intermediate energy deuteron photo- disintegration studies are discussed in some detail
DAMA/NaI results
The DAMA/NaI set-up of the DAMA experiment has been operative during seven
annual cycles and has investigated several rare processes. In particular, it
has been realised in order to investigate the model independent annual
modulation signature for Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo. With the
total exposure collected in the seven annual cycles (107731 kg day) a model
independent evidence for the presence of a Dark Matter particle component in
the galactic halo has been pointed out at 6.3 sigma C.L.. Some of the many
possible corollary model dependent quests for the candidate particle have been
presented as well.Comment: Contributed paper to the Rencontres de Moriond "Electroweak
Interactions and Unified Theories", La Thuile, Aosta Valley, Italy, March
200
Evaluation of carcass quality, body and pulmonary lesions detected at the abattoir in heavy pigs subjected or not to tail docking
BackgroundNowadays, body and tail lesions and respiratory disease are some of the greatest problems affecting the health and welfare of pigs. The aim of the study was to measure the prevalence of pleurisy, bronchopneumonia (enzootic pneumonia like lesions) and lesions on tail and body of heavy pigs subjected or not to tail docking through the inspection in Italian abattoirs. Additionally, the effect of tail docking and season was investigated on carcass quality (weight, % of lean meat, and Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) classification). For this purpose, a total 17.256 carcasses belonging to 171 batches from 103 farms were inspected in an Italian abattoir between 2019 and 2022. Enzootic pneumonia (EP) like lesions were scored according to the Madec and Derrien method, while pleurisy was scored using the Italian Slaughterhouse pleuritic evaluation system (SPES). For the tail and body, the lesions were scored according to Welfare Quality. The lesion score index (LSI) was calculated for each area. Data were analysed using a general linear model (GLM) including tail caudectomy, season and distance of the farm from the abattoir.ResultsThe warm season increased the percentage of lesions in carcasses in all parts of the body observed (P < 0.0001). The presence of undocked tail increased the LSI of the tail (P < 0.0001). The percentage of limbs lesions with score 2 and limbs LSI increase with increasing duration of transport (coef. = 0.003, P < 0.001; coef. = 0.008, P < 0.001; respectively). The hot carcass weight and the percentage of carcasses included in the PDO were higher in batches with docked tails (P = 0.027; P < 0.001, respectively), while the percentage of lean meat was higher in batches with undocked tails (P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between the percentage of carcasses included in PDO and the LSI of tail (r = - 0.422; P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn conclusion, the presence of the undocked tail and the warm season can be considered risk factors for the prevalence of tail lesions, while long transport can increase limb lesions. Furthermore, the carcass weight and meat quality were negatively influenced by tail lesions
Investigating pseudoscalar and scalar dark matter
In this paper another class of Dark Matter candidate particles: the
pseudoscalar and scalar light bosonic candidates, is discussed. Particular care
is devoted to the study of the processes for their detection (which only
involves electrons and photons/X-rays) in a suitable underground experimental
set-up. For this purpose the needed calculations are developed and various
related aspects and phenomenologies are discussed. In particular, it is shown
that - in addition to the WIMP cases already discussed elsewhere - there is
also possibility for a bosonic candidate to account for the 6.3 sigma C.L.
model independent evidence for the presence of a particle DM component in the
galactic halo observed by DAMA/NaI. Allowed regions in these scenarios are
presented also paying particular care on the cosmological interest of the
bosonic candidate.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A (in press
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